Supreme Court seems likely to back Trump’s power to fire independent agency board members

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court seems likely to expand presidential control over independent federal agencies, signaling support for President Donald Trump’s firing of board members. The court’s conservative majority suggested in arguments Monday it would overturn a 90-year-old decision that has limited when presidents can fire agencies’ board members, or leave it with only its shell intact. Lawyers for the administration are defending President Donald Trump’s decision to fire Federal Trade Commission member Rebecca Slaughter without cause and calling on the court to jettison the unanimous 1935 decision. The court already has allowed Slaughter and the board members of other agencies to be ousted from jobs even as their legal challenges continue.

Trump’s former lawyer Alina Habba resigns as top federal prosecutor in New Jersey

(AP) — President Donald Trump’s former personal attorney, Alina Habba, announced her resignation as acting U.S. attorney in New Jersey. This decision comes after an appeals court disqualified her from the role. Habba was appointed in March to serve a temporary term. She had no prior federal prosecutorial experience, and New Jersey’s senators opposed her confirmation. In July, a panel of federal judges replaced her with a subordinate. Attorney General Pam Bondi fired the replacement, blaming politically motivated judges. Earlier this month, an appeals court formally disqualified Habba.

12 FBI agents fired for kneeling during racial justice protest sue to get their jobs back

WASHINGTON (AP) — Twelve former FBI agents fired after kneeling during a 2020 racial justice protest in Washington have sued to get their jobs back. They say their action had been intended to de-escalate a volatile situation and was not meant as a political gesture. The agents say in their lawsuit filed Monday that they were fired in September by Director Kash Patel because they were perceived as not being politically affiliated with President Donald Trump. But they say their decision to take a knee on June 4, 2020, days after the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police, has been misinterpreted as political expression. The FBI declined to comment Monday..

Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett is running for the US Senate in Texas

(AP) — Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett has launched a campaign for the U.S. Senate in Texas. Crockett’s announcement Monday came after fellow Democrat and former Rep. Colin Allred ended his Senate campaign to run for a House seat. Texas is critical to Democrats’ long-shot hopes of reclaiming a Senate majority in next year’s elections, and GOP incumbent John Cornyn is facing the toughest primary race of his 24-year Senate career against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and two-term Rep. Wesley Hunt. Crockett still faces state Rep. James Talarico for the Democratic nod. Crockett has a national profile as one of Congress’ most outspoken Democrats and a frequent target of GOP attacks.